Enhanced video gaming machine

• US 8,784,213 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2008
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tipping Point Group
• Original Assignee: Tipping Point Group
• Inventors: Johnson, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US11/968,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20080161107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,393 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463 39- 43, 463/29, 463/33
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

The present invention provides a closed-loop system that allows the operator of video gaming machines or other systems to define promotional events for the particular machines or systems, monitor the activity of the particular machines or systems, and grant awards. More specifically, the promotional events may include scheduling information, winning criteria and awards. During the period of time that the promotional event is active, the activity of the machine or system is monitored to determine if the winning criteria has been satisfied. If the winning criteria are satisfied, information pertaining to event is recorded. The present invention is applicable to a variety of embodiments including video poker machines, black jack machines or other gaming and gambling machines, as well as other systems that include a display mechanism and an activity that can be monitored.

Claims

1. A controller for enhancing a standard electronic gaming machine which includes at least one video display, at least one user input and a processing system which generates game information and outputs the game information via a video output for display by the at least one video display, the controller configured to be communicatively coupled to the processing system to cause the at least one video display to display secondary content which is generated independent and apart from the game information which is generated by the processing system of the standard electronic gaming machine, the controller comprising:

a machine interface that communicatively couples to the processing system of the standard electronic gaming machine for monitoring activity of the standard electronic gaming machine;

a display interface configured to cause the at least one video display of the standard electronic gaming machine to display secondary content on a particular portion thereof, independent of the game content generated by the processing system which is separately provided to the at least one video display for display thereby;

a user interface to monitor one or more actuation devices on the standard electronic gaming machine; and

a server interface for obtaining secondary content from at least one remote server;

the controller being configured to cause said at least one video display of the standard electronic gaming machine to display content which is different than said game content which is generated in output by said processing system, said content comprising at least said secondary content received from said at least one remote server, monitor the standard activity of the gaming machine and provide the monitored information to the server via the server interface.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a processing system that is separate from the processing system in the standard electronic gaming machine.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a processing system that is separate from the processing system in the standard electronic gaming machine but interfaces to the same video display output.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the secondary content comprises entertainment feeds obtained from an entertainment source.

5. The controller of claim 3, wherein the secondary content comprises promotional events obtained from a promotional event server.

6. The controller of claim 5, wherein the promotional events are programmable through the promotional server and can be customized and scheduled.

7. The electronic controller of claim 3, wherein the secondary content comprises two components, entertainment feeds obtained from an entertainment source and promotional events obtained from a promotional event server.

8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the controller monitors actuations of the user input interface and renders the entertainment feed component of the secondary content based at least in part on such actuations.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the promotional events identify actuations of the user interface and results of such actuations.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein the results of such actuations relate to the presentation of the entertainment feed component of the secondary content.

11. The controller of claim 9, wherein the results of such actuations augment award output data.